Lakers make it 10!

What can I say about the Lakers' 10th straight win?

"Farm"-tastic!

Jordan Farmar scored a new career high of 24 points and put in 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and a block in the Lakers' rout of the lagging Miami Heat, 106-88. Kobe Bryant put in another "make-your-teammates-better" type of performance (21 points, 8 assists and 4 steals) while front court stalwarts Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol each had a double-double.

I posed the question of whether the Lakers can make it 10 in a row, and the team won convincingly. Every expert in the NBA seems to like the team's chances to go deep in the playoffs and I agree with them. Now let's see if the Lakers can sustain this high level of play


Tags: Lakers

Can the Lakers Make it 10 Wins in a Row?

Kobe Bryant practically willed the Los Angeles Lakers to victory over the sliding Portland Trailblazers to extend the Lakers' winning streak to 9 victories.

The Lakers played ugly in the first half of the game but were able to recover on the second half, getting quality minutes from Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic and Ronnie Turiaf. The bench have contributed a lot to very impressive February the team is having-- The Lakers are 12-1 so far this month!

It makes we wonder if the Lakers have what it takes to stretch the streak to 10 against the suddenly revived Miami Heat. The Heat have just come from their biggest win of the season and are learning to play Shawn Marion and Dwayne Wade together. Can the Lakers pull it off?




Tags: Lakers

Battle of L.A.: Lakers Trump Clippers; Top Western Conference

The Los Angeles Lakers shot and shared the ball all the way to a victory over the hometown rival Clippers, to a score of 113-95. The Clips never recovered after a strong third quarter by Lakers when it extended the half-time lead to double digits.

The win also put the Lakers as the number 1 team in the Western conference standings, coupled with the New Orleans Hornets loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The last time the Lakers were atop the Western Conference standings, Andrew Bynum injured his knee and Trevor Ariza broke his foot. That started the chain of events that led to the much loved and much hated Gasol Acquisition (or Gasol Theft, depending on your perspective).

Will this reign of the Western Conference be another short-lived stint? Time will tell; the Lakers are set to face the Seattle Supersonics, Portland Trailblazers and the struggling Miami Heat before the month ends.


Tags: Lakers

2008 NBA Trading Season: One of the Best

Whoa!

Did Shaquille O'Neal, Shawn Marion, Ben Wallace, Pau Gasol, and Jason Kidd just changed teams?

Yep, and they're not even half of the players who got traded. That was how crazy it got for this year's trades before the 2008 deadline.

Here's a summary of the key NBA trades and transactions (Source: NBA.com):

• L.A. Lakers acquire Pau Gasol and a 2010 second-round draft pick from Memphis in exchange for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the draft rights to Marc Gasol and first round picks in 2008 and 2010
• Phoenix acquires Shaquille O'Neal from Miami in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.
• Atlanta acquires Mike Bibby from Sacramento in exchange for Shelden Williams, Lorenzen Wright, Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue and a 2008 second round draft pick.
• Dallas signs Keith Van Horn and trades Van Horn, Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, DeSagana Diop, first-round draft choices in 2008 and 2010, and cash considerations to New Jersey for Jason Kidd, Malik Allen and Antoine Wright; waives Nick Fazekas.
• San Antonio acquires Kurt Thomas from Seattle in exchange for Francisco Elson, Brent Barry and a 2009 first round draft pick.
• Houston acquires Gerald Green from Minnesota in exchange for Kirk Snyder, a second-round pick in 2010 and cash considerations.
• In a three-team trade, New Orleans acquires Bonzi Wells and Mike James from Houston, Houston acquires Bobby Jackson, Adam Haluska and a 2008 second-round pick from New Orleans as well as the rights to Sergei Lishouk from Memphis and Memphis acquires Marcus Vinicius from New Orleans and the draft rights to Malick Badiane from Houston.

The Ben Wallace trade to the Cavs, along were still not listed.

The winners of the trades are the Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, New Orleans Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers. Solid trades and the teams got better without losing much. The Seattle Supersonics and Memphis Grizzlies also did a good job of clearing cap space, so they get points for sticking to the rebuilding plan

The Losers? The Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks for their knee-jerk reaction to the Gasol trade. Throw in the Nets for not getting a better deal for Kidd, thanks to ex-Laker Devean George.

Sheesh, the trades put me in a doozy so I'll probably take a break and write about it more soon.


Tags: Lakers

Lakers Spoil Bibby's Hawks Debut

After a strong performance in their recent unworldly 9-game road trip, the Lakers continue their winning ways at home by beating the Atlanta Hawks 122-93, Mike Bibby's first game as a member of the Hawks.

If you know your Lakers playoff history, Mike Bibby had terrorized the Lakers numerous times in the post-season when he was still a member of the Sacramento Kings. Bibby could be seen as one of the quick guards that made their money by abusing the Lakers' weak pick and roll defense. Mike Bibby even reached #4 in my Top 9 Playoff Villains in the last decade for the Lakers.

The win marks the fifth straight for the Lakers and the Hawks never stood a chance. The Lakers built a commanding 41-point lead in the first half and even Kobe Bryant was given a chance to rest.

The next game for the Lakers is another first for a newly acquired player: Shaquile O'neal's potentially first game with the Phoenix Suns. I see a the Lakers continuing their streak to six.

Tags: Lakers

The Andrew Bynum Smoke Screen

Is Andrew Bynum's injury worse than advertised?

Three weeks into Bynum's knee injury, the hurt knee seems to be non-news in light of the Lakers' acquisition of Pau Gasol. But there has been talk that the dislocated knee injury is far from getting healed soon. And from this chat from ESPN:

Mike (LA, CA): There are rumors floating around Lakerland that Andrew Bynum's injury is actually worst than expected, with that being said can the Lakers contend for a title without him in the lineup this year?

Chris Broussard: I spoke with someone very close to Bynum a few days ago, and he said AB was fine and on schedule. Now, could he be lying? Possibly. But the few sources I've spoken with close to the situation have assured me he'll be back before the end of March. Without him, the Lakers would still be a contender, but I wouldn't pick them to win the West.

There seems to be some level of skepticism from NBA experts regarding the injury's severity. While the Gasol trade helps, the prospects of Bynum not making it in the playoffs is really not a good scenario.


Tags: Lakers

Will the Lakers Trade for Shawn Marion?

Here is perhaps the biggest, most intriguing twist in the whole trade season: Shawn Marion goes to the Lakers.

This trade scenario has been "out there" since the rumblings of Shawn Marion, then with the Phoenix Suns, has been known. The biggest roadblock to that happening was that each of the principals, the Lakers and the Suns, were not so keen on helping each other out. Now, with Marion wearing the Miami Heat jersey (on the interim?), this deal now becomes more viable.

I tried the trade over at ESPN's Trade machine and the trade makes financial and basketball sense. Imagine Lamar Odom going back to Miami to hopefully resurrect his career at the team where he flourished and Shawn Marion finally playing in the offense that best suits his skills. Imagine that. The biggest twist indeed.


Tags: Lakers

WTF: Shaq traded to the Phoenix Suns

In what could be the biggest "I Can Top You" trade in the NBA, four-time champ and former MVP Shaquille O'neal goes to the Phoenix Suns for "The Matrix" Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.

The trade has been known for two days and the finalization just concluded with Shaq's physical tests. Journalists, pundits and experts have been easy to lambaste the transaction and question Suns GM Steve Kerr on the deal. The trade has been seen as a knee-jerk reaction to the Lakers-Grizzlies trade that brought Pau Gasol to the Lakers. Perhaps Kerr knew Marion would bolt out once his contract expires.

It can now be said that the Suns have given up ot the Steve Nash-Amare Stoudemire-Shawn Marion trio that has its way into the playoffs the last few seasons. What we could see now is a slower team that will bank on Shaq and STAT's inside presence, and will put Steve Nash's half court skills to the test.

But does it make sense? Hell no. Shaq is old, slower and injured-- three things you don't want in an NBA player. It reminds me so much the Chris Webber signing in Golden State. It really makes me wonder the GM's are REALLY thinking as they were pulling the trigger on the trades and transactions.


Tags: NBA

Pau Gasol Impressive in Laker Debut

Pau Gasol in Purple and Gold started his Laker career silencing critics of the trade.

Gasol led the Lakers over the New Jersey Nets in a 105-90 win. He scored 24 points and 12 rebounds on 10 out of 15 shooting. Gasol and Derek Fisher carried the scoring load as Kobe Bryant struggled mightily. The Lakers are 3-1 on their ongoing road trip.

I know this is one game, but Mitch Kupchak is looking like a genius for getting Gasol for Kwame Brown's expiring contract. Western Conference executives are running scared, as evidenced by the rumors that none other than Shaquille O'neal will be traded to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion. It makes little sense, but that's the effect of the Gasol trade. Dallas also is rumored to target Nets cornerstore Jason Kidd.

If the Kidd deals pushes through, that coupled with Chris Webber signing with the Golden State Warriors represent a dual reunion with their original teams.

You gotta love this year's trade season.


Tags: Lakers

Big NBA Trade: Lakers Get Pau Gasol

Holy Smokes! A Lakers trade!

The Lakers acquired center Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, rights to Marc Gasol (Pau's brother) and two first round draft picks (2008 & 2010). It looks like a lot but it's trade that gets everybody what they want: the Lakers get immediate post help and a top-tier big man, the Grizzlies get Kwame Brown's expiring contract.

I'd say it's an above average trade for the Lakers. They do get short term support fro Kobe, but what no happens to Lamar Odom? Will he slide to the small forward position? Sounds unlikely. I think the Lakers are still not done dealing this year.

Another set of questions: Won't Gasol hamper Andrew Bynum's development when he comes back from an injury? If Bynum is the center and Gasol is the designated power forward, won't that create a cramped post game for the Lakers?

While it's easy to praise the trade, there may be long-term implications here:

1. A Kobe trade is now virtually not happening in this lifetime;
2. Lamar Odom is now expendable;
3. It's a "Win Now" strategy for the Lakers' front office
4. Still no long term solution for the point guard, unless Jordan Farmar develops quickly

In other words, I'm 60% convinced this is a good trade for the Lakers.


Tags: Lakers